Use Of Forceps With A C/Section

[weemouse1]

Hi. My friend had her first baby recently. It was a planned section. The baby was apparently stuck, and they had to use forceps.
Her little baby is gorgeous, but had a drooping side to her face on birth. This has mostly resolved, but apparently she may have some permanent damage around her mouth, nothing too severe she has been told.
Was this caused by the forceps?
I'm just curious as I had never heard of forceps being used in a section before, would this mean that the baby was perhaps "too far" down?
The reasons given for the section were pretty minor, she was in a private hospital.
My friend has absolute faith in her Cons and doesn't seem to think anything is amiss. But my first thought was "did they do that to the baby"?
Not that I would necessarily say anything to my friend anyway, she is so happy. This is a very much longed for baby, following fertility treatment.

I was a forceps baby and needed resuscitation in 1977. No problems since. DS was an EMCS. Tbh I don't know of forceps were used, but DH says he saw them, so maybe. If so, clearly no repercussions. I think forceps are only used when there is no choice. Sadly there are some risks. So take your pick: risk of damage, maybe permanent, to your perineum and baby's face, or brain damage or death for baby and possible death for you. Ok, it's a bit more complex than that a lot of the time, but ultimately that might be the choice.

Soupdragon and others talking about weighing up risk, the OP was talking about forceps during cs. There's no element of choice/risk balance in that situation - its down to the obstetrician at that moment. (It's not like you can sit up and ask them to stop and use a different instrument!)

"There's no element of choice/risk balance in that situation - its down to the obstetrician at that moment. (It's not like you can sit up and ask them to stop and use a different instrument!"

Well, you can always say you refuse to allow forceps prior to the cs, like one other poster was planning, or usually there is your partner in there with you to speak on your behalf - unless they anaesthetise them too?

I would imagine that if you specifically withhold consent to use forceps with an elective section, then the obstetrician may not agree to perform the operation. As a scrub nurse I would want to get legal advice before I agreed to do it.

Also, IME the forceps used are Simpsons (if anyone wants to look this up) which are rather different from Keillands which are used for high vaginal deliveries which are more likely to be associated with birth injuries.

Keillands are rarey used in most hospitals these days even for vaginal deliveries. Normally Neville Barnes or sometimes maybe Wrigleys. I don't think any of the registrar;'s at our hospital can use them. Certainly the last batch of registrars couldn't, seems to be falling out of favour big time.

And I agree with MrsMinivers about the Dr probably wouldn't agree to doing a section unless you agreed to them doing anything and everything they may need to do as part of the op. You have to sign a consent form before you go in and there is no place for putting a list of opt outs on the consent form.

Keillands are still used in my trust Viva, I've only seen consultants use them though.

We've got a couple of consultants who I have occassionally seen use them. I'm sure all the consultants can, they just don't spend a lot of time on labour ward to actually do it.

But Soupdragon why would you refuse (or make any directive comment about surgical technique) forceps in a caesarean section setting?